A review by livlosiewicz
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Pros:
•I love a character-based book and really enjoyed the complexity of each of the characters in this one
•The writing style had some wry humor that I really enjoyed
•The story generally felt purposeful and well-written, and I really liked the structure of it, where it led to/how it got there, and the contrasting perspectives of the characters
Cons:
•
•There were a few moments where I really did not understand the characters’ actions and that was frustrating
Recommendation: I recommend to people who like character based stories with a slightly offbeat charm to them, especially if you like baseball. I think you can enjoy the book without liking baseball, but I also like baseball so I can’t guarantee. This book is long but it never really felt like it dragged, and I grew to feel very attached the characters. There are also discussion questions at the end!! Avoid if you want something short or suspenseful.
•I love a character-based book and really enjoyed the complexity of each of the characters in this one
•The writing style had some wry humor that I really enjoyed
•The story generally felt purposeful and well-written, and I really liked the structure of it, where it led to/how it got there, and the contrasting perspectives of the characters
Cons:
•
Spoiler
A main plotline involves a romantic relationship between a school administrator and a student. This just never sits well for me. I appreciated the nuance it brought to the characters, but ultimately, it’s just never going to be ethically okay, and I wish we had gotten to see those stories in a different way. I also found that the author’s idea of “how would this be different if they were heterosexual?” Didn’t age great.•There were a few moments where I really did not understand the characters’ actions and that was frustrating
Recommendation: I recommend to people who like character based stories with a slightly offbeat charm to them, especially if you like baseball. I think you can enjoy the book without liking baseball, but I also like baseball so I can’t guarantee. This book is long but it never really felt like it dragged, and I grew to feel very attached the characters. There are also discussion questions at the end!! Avoid if you want something short or suspenseful.